ASEAN Ministers Reaffirm Efforts to Combat Transnational Crimes

ASEAN Ministers responsible for combating transnational crimes met in the Laotian capital of Vientiane on 15-19 September 2013 and reaffirmed their commitment for collective efforts. This 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crimes (AMMTC) and Its Related Meetings adopted their work programme for 2013-2015 and also noted the formation of the Working Group on Cybercrime, to enhance efforts for tackling such crimes.

The Ministers were updated on the progress of efforts to combat transnational crimes in the region. The Ministers commended the completion of ratification of the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism (ACCT) by all ten ASEAN Member States on 11 January 2013. They were also pleased to note the progress in the development of an ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP) and the Regional Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (RPA).

In cooperation with Dialogue Partners, the 6th AMMTC + 3 Consultation was held to discuss cooperation on combating transnational crime. The 3rd AMMTC + China Consultation commemorated the 10th year of ASEAN-China cooperation on law enforcement by highlighting key activities and projects which will be conducted or developed in the near future. The inaugural AMMTC + Japan Consultation was also held to discuss cooperation on common areas of transnational crime in the region.